Flashlight



Jan. 21, 1941. A l- DESIMQNE 2,229,494

` FLASHLIGHT Filed April 30, 1938 mum...

INVENTOR ATTORNEY@ Patented Jan'. 21, 1941 PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGI-IT Anthony J. Desimone, Lyndhurst, N. J., assignor to Bright Star Battery Company, Clifton, N. J., a corporation of New York Application April 30, 1938, Serial No. 205,147

2 Claims.

This invention relates to iiashlights.

An object of this invention is a ashlight of novel construction and arrangement of parts in which the casing is composed of insulating material such, for example, as cellulose acetate whereby there is a complete absence of exposed metal in the ashlight.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specication and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a flashlight embodying the invention; Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig 1 with some of the parts removed, and

Figs. 3, 4, and 6 are details oi various parts of the iiashlight.

In the flashlight illustrated by the drawing, the tube Il), base cap II, head I2 and lens ring I3 are all composed of thermoplastic material such for example, as cellulose acetate and are formed by the injection molding process. vDuring the molding of these parts, threads are provided either interiorly or exteriorly whereby they may be assembled as shown in Fig. 1 to form a flashlight casing.

One end of the battery tube I0 is provided with an inwardly directed integral ange I4. A metal cup I5 is arranged in the battery tube IIJ with its bottom in contact with the flange I4. In the metal cup is provided an insulating washer I6 and rivets I'I connect the washer and cup to the flange I4. A threaded socket I3 is fastened to the bottom of the cup I5 and passes through the bore in the disk or flange I4. A metal bridge member I9 has its ends connected to the washer I6 by rivets 20 which register with apertures in the bottom of the cup I5, the apertures being of such size that there is no metal to metal contact between the rivets and the cup. The member I9 is reduced in width near its ends to form shoulders 2| and a resilient metal strip 22 is provided with recesses 23 in its ends which receive the narrower portions of the member I3, the strip spanning the lower end of the socket I8.

A metal ferrule 25 is fitted into the bottom end of the battery tube III and its inner end is rolled inwardlyv into a groove as at 24 in the tube for locking the ferrule in place. A platform 30 is formed on the battery tube integral therewith and supports a thumb slide 3 I, of the same composition as the tube Within the tube I0 is arranged a resilient metal strip 32 having an offset 33 in which is arranged a bolt 34. In the tube I Il is a slot in which the oliset 33 is arranged and the thumb piece 3| is provided with a slotted nut 35 which is threaded on to the bolt 34. The strip (Cl. Z110-10.6)

32 is of such length that when the thumb slide 3l is in the position shown in Fig. 1, its ends engage both the cup I5 and the ferrule 25 but when it is retracted from such position, the upper end is moved out of contact with the cup I5. 'I'he strip 32, therefore, acts as a switch member for closing and opening the bulb circuit.

In the base cap is provided a convolute spring 36, the upper end of which engages a battery in the tube I0. The lower turn of the spring is provided with an upstanding portion 3'I which, when the base cap is fully threaded on to the battery tube engages the ferrule 25.

The positive terminal of the battery engages the bridge I 9 and current is transmitted through the bridge I9 and flexible member 22 to the center contact of a bulb arranged in the socket I8. In the event of shock being applied to the flashlight, the bridge I9 protects the bulb against damage resulting from movement of the batteries in the tube IB. In the head I2 are provided the usual reflector 38 and lens 39 which are held in place by the ring I 3. Ii desired, the ring I3 may be made of translucent material so that in the event the flashlight is stood upside down on a table or the like, it can be ascertained by observation of the ring I3 whether or not the bulb is energized.

I claim:

1. A flashlight comprising a tube of insulating material having an inwardly projecting integral annular ange at one end, a bulb socket, means supporting said socket from said flange, a rigid substantially U-shaped member having shoulders formed in its edges adjacent its ends, means supporting said member from said ange, and a resilient member spanning said U-shaped member for engagement by a bulb terminal, said resilient member having a recess at each end in which is received one leg of said U-shaped member with portions of said resilient member engaging said shoulders.

2. A ilashlight comprising a tube of insulating material having an inwardly directing flange at one end, a metal cup in said tube with its closed end contacting said flange, a bulb socket carried by said cup and projecting through said Iiange, a rigid substantially U-shaped member having shoulders formed in its edges adjacent its ends, means insulatingly supporting said U-shaped member from said cup with its bow portion engageable by a battery terminal, and a resilient member spanning said U-shaped member for engagement by a bulb terminal, said resilient member having a recess at each end in which is received one leg of said U-shaped member with portions of said resilient member engaging said shoulders.

ANTHONY J. DESIMONE. 

